Around 42% of Americans are currently working from home owing to the global health situation, and Forbes predicts that this trend will only continue, even as nations enter a state of ‘new normality’ and business as usual resumes. For the approximately 77 million dogs in the U.S., life couldn’t be better: their ultimate dream - being with their owner on a daily basis - is now a reality. If you want to make the most of remote work with your pet, ensuring you get all your tasks done while keeping your pooch fit and healthy, the following tips may help.
Creating And Sticking To A Work Schedule
Working remotely with a dog can lose its appeal if you are constantly online, answering emails and texts 24/7 and not setting clear limits. From the outset, you and other members of your team should agree on a fixed schedule so that you can schedule in other responsibilities - including exercise time for your dog. Dogs need different levels of exercise depending on aspects such as bread, health and fitness, and age. Try to schedule in a couple of long walks a day, giving your dog a decent amount of off-leash time so they can develop skills like jumping, sprinting, and reaching to pick up Frisbees and toys you throw to them. Take shorter breaks as well. This will enable you to get your eyes off the computer and enjoy some fresh air. Shorter breaks are an ideal time to work on training your pup - both on behavioral skills and tricks. On the behavioral side, make sure your dog behaves correctly when a delivery person or postal service employee knocks on your door or approaches your fence.
Reaching For Higher Ground
Consider remote work a golden opportunity to really work on your dog’s health and fitness from an integrated perspective. Use FitBark to track their activity levels, distance walked, calories burned, and overall health and behavior. This handy collar and app allows you to set specific fitness goals for breed, age and weight, so go for gold if your dog can, so long as they do not have a health condition that requires lower amounts of exercise. One way to add in a bit of cardio for young, healthy dogs is to build a DIY agility course in your backyard. Just a few features to include are tunnels, weave poles, and teeter-totters.
Giving Your Dog Some ‘Me Time’
Throughout the day, you may be called upon to take part in video conferences, work on demanding tasks, or partake in long phone calls. You should therefore help your dog find ways to enjoy their time alone. This can be achieved through food mazes and toys such as automatic dog toy ball launchers, which enable even the most energetic dog to get rid of excess energy while playing a seemingly endless game of ‘fetch the ball’. Chew dog toys (which stick to the ground with suction cups) are ideal for full-time chewers who love to bite, chew, and play tug-of-war.
If you are working remotely, the chances are, one of the things you most enjoy is the chance to spend more time with your dog. The key to striking the perfect balance between work and fun is to stick to a strict schedule - one that incorporates both work tasks and dog exercise and training. Now is the perfect time to track and improve your dog’s fitness - something that FitBark is centered on helping you to do.
